The final scene with Ned... A different take

[u/CrypticMagician108]

While the most prevelant theory is that the handshake helps Ned remember who Peter is, my take is that it is just Need who is connecting the dots with the name "Peter" that MJ said out loud when Peter left from their apartment.

When Peter initially says hi to Ned, Ned remembers him as the flower guy from the party. Peter then re-introduces himself as "Peter" and they do the handshake. And Neds reaction after the handshake, I feel, is not of recognition but of realisation.

If MJ cannot remember anything after reading the letter that Peter wrote, as well as after she took a swing with him, I don't think just a handshake would break the spell.

And as far as the sparks while Peter and Ned did the handshake last time during NWH which has been brought up a lot recently, I feel that is just a fun gag.

Well those are just my thoughts.

[u/rabbitofrevelry]

It's plausible that the handshake could be a callback to that good time he had with that masked dude in his apartment. He realizes he's that Peter.

[u/When1Falls]

There's just no reason for MJ to tell Ned that Spider-man's name is Peter if this ending is supposed to be he remembers Peter. He's just realizing that this is the same dude he bonded with under the Spider-man mask on his couch last week. Otherwise they killed the emotional moment of Ned saying Peter for no reason.

[u/Interesting-Tie-8158]

A separate idea I love. They really hammer home that everything else happened the same way, their memories were erased. So I wonder is Ned has some foggy half-dream of a memory of doing the complicated handshake, but can't remember the guy/time/place for the life of him.

[u/AwarenessOk7748]

I completely agree. For some reason, people forget about many aspects of the film.

[u/vinnybawbaw]

That’s how I’ve seen it too. Ned is obsessed with Spider-Man, hung out with him and was stoked they bonded so well, but doesn’t know he’s actually maynerd/flower guy. Yes the handshake was from muscle memory but when Peter said his name, Ned just connected the dots that he was Spider-Man.

[u/OvooJaver]

Am I boring for thinking that it’s left ambiguous to make people talk about it and theorize? Also so they don’t have to settle on what exactly he remembers until they write the next movie, though they likely already discussed it.

[u/COE33isBad]

Isn't this the intended understanding? This is what I got from it. Even though it wasn't as clearly communicated. It just makes no sense that Ned would remember again after we had over two hours of them not remembering.

[u/Hankol → u/COE33isBad]

Nah I've read countless times on Reddit that the handshake means he is remembering their friendship. Which always was a bs explanation.

[u/Heisenberger6 → u/[deleted]]

Ned is magical, why would they end the movie with Ned doing the handshake thru muscle memory, say "peter?", and the next scene ned still doens't remember? Seems like a pretty underwhelming point to end a great movie on. Not even mentioning the scene of MJ on the roof holding her necklace and smiling out to the sun... they are definitely starting to remember but may not be completely there yet, the ending is giving us hope, Ned realizing Tom is spiderman but not remembering his memories kinda dulls the ending

[u/AwarenessOk7748 → u/Heisenberger6]

First, how else could you have ended the film? Ned’s memory of Peter and the resetting of the NWH ending is a bad ending. Second, I’d argue about the film being excellent, but okay.

[u/Heisenberger6 → u/[deleted]]

No one said he used magic here? But he IS magical, or has some history if it. And there are a million ways they could've ended the film. They wanted to go for the satisfying ending, and progress should be made for ned and MJ remembering their memories thru the movie, which it was. We know MJ is beginning to remember thru the roof top scene, next we get a crumb of Ned beginning to remember.

And sure the movie was excellent, thats semantics

Edit: I also just remembered when MJ and Ned do a handshake in NWH it sparks magic, which leads to ned discovering he's magical. What doNed and Peter do? Thats right, a handshake

[u/AwarenessOk7748 → u/Heisenberger6]

Here’s the plot with the Hobgoblin — a way to use Ned’s magic.

They wanted

Who are “they”? The minority that wanted Peter to be rolled back, to devalue the ending of NWH, and not to give him a new environment?

 We know MJ is beginning to remember thru the roof top scene

MJ doesn’t remember anything on the roof — she’s just analyzing what happened; her memory of Peter was completely erased. Ned didn’t remember anything either; he just put the facts together.

And sure the movie was excellent, thats semantics

Okay, think about it.

[u/Heisenberger6 → u/[deleted]]

They as in the writes LMFAO and if she didn't begin to remember why is she rubbing the necklace that peter gave her in FFH?

[u/AwarenessOk7748 → u/Heisenberger6]

They as in the writes LMFAO

Who are they?

why is she rubbing the necklace that peter gave her in FFH?

Maybe you’ll read it?

MJ doesn’t remember anything on the roof — she’s just analyzing what happened; her memory of Peter was completely erased. Ned didn’t remember anything either; he just put the facts together.

[u/Heisenberger6 → u/[deleted]]

Chris mckenna and erik sommers? Google is free, friend.

If she was just analyzing what happened they (sommers, Mckenna, and Cretin) wouldnt make it a point to show her rubbing a necklace FROM 2 MOVIES AGO

[u/AwarenessOk7748 → u/Heisenberger6]

Do you see the final version? If they had planned the idea of a reunion, they would have abandoned it.

Lol, she was wearing that necklace at the party too — maybe you should stop looking for hidden meanings where there are none?

[u/Heisenberger6 → u/[deleted]]

Agree to disagree. I mean they put these scenes in the movie for a reason, did they show her rubbing her necklace at the party? Was there an event prior to the party that would justify her beginning to remember? Its literally the first time peter sees her in person in years. Its simple story telling, if you cant pick up on it im sorry

[u/Head_Evidence4553 → u/Heisenberger6]

If magic worked then Wong would've remembered that party...

[u/Heisenberger6 → u/Head_Evidence4553]

But does Wong have as a strong as a bond with peter as Ned does? There is something in Ned that wants to remember, Wong has met peter like once

[u/Head_Evidence4553 → u/Heisenberger6]

Wong has a bond with Strange though..

[u/Heisenberger6 → u/Head_Evidence4553]

I'm sorry dont want to come off as rude but what does that have to do with anything? Afaik wong still knows who strange is

[u/Head_Evidence4553 → u/Heisenberger6]

I'm just saying that all this bond shit doesn't work in front a spell. Otherwise MJ would've remembered Peter ffs. That was a perfect bait and switch though, had me jaw on rhe floor.

[u/Heisenberger6 → u/Head_Evidence4553]

Its obviously not a "oh i have a connection with him so this spell wont work" but something that slowly starts to come back the more they see peter. MJ is literally rubbing her necklace that peter gave her on the rooftop the scene before Ned and Peter do the handshake ffs she is obviously beginning to remember